Octomom sparks legislation talk of limiting reproductive technology

It has been an exciting few weeks in here in Georgia. After the Octomom spectacle, Georgia’s Right To Life zealots came out of the woods with a number of restrictive bills hoping to open the door to legislation that would ultimately severely limit or outlaw assisted reproductive technology, third-party reproduction, contraception and abortion. There was a divide and conquer strategy aimed to limit access to the proposed legislation until minutes before a bill was to be submitted. At the same time, discussion was blocked by interrupting meetings, failing to keep to planned schedules and holding simultaneous hearings. While these tactics filled our week with stress and anxiety about whether we would be able to continue to provide services to our patients, in other ways we are stronger as a result of our efforts.

Physicians, psychologists, counselors, pharmaceutical representatives and patients came together to hold a candle up to the short sighted ignorance of those wishing to limit couples family building options. Working together helped strengthen the bonds of all of us.

The battle is not completely over. I learned that we win by sticking together. We win not by rational arguments about what is right, but by helping the legislators hear the voices of the tens of thousands of neighbors, friends and families who are battling with fertility problems. We win by pointing out the economic impact that this legislation will have on the people of each legislator’s district. Our fight is not over yet. We continue to let the legislators know that we will remain vigilant and hold them accountable for poorly conceived legislation put forth in the dark of the night for narrow political aims.

I think Georgia is not the end of this fight. I hope you won’t face this in your state, but if you do, I hope you are as lucky as I am to work with a great group of colleagues and patients.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Perloe, MD

Mark is the Medical Director at Georgia Reproductive Specialists. He has expertise in treating conditions that are related to infertility, including polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent pregnancy loss,...read more